The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-09-01

guage against father, as they saw their
game leap over the boundary line which
separated the lower country from his
farm; but wholesome fear of the law
prevented them from pursuing the
game further.
One season the hunters were so nu-
merous in the country that a continual
1ringi in one direction or another seemed
to be kept up all day. The deer in the
forest heard the noise, as well, and
they became more shy and nervous
than ever before. 1t was with difficulty
that even father could approach within
calling distance of them, and it was
only under cover of the night that they
would venture forth from the forest to
eat the food which he set out for them.
This fact worried him considerably, and
he Kept up ceaseless watch round his
farm to see that none of the hunters
attempted to hunt in his forest.
One day he returned from one of
these journeys on the opposite side of
the farm, all tired and worn out. He
He had just hitched his horse to post,
and was tanning himself with his hat,
when the deep baying of a hound broke
out startlingly upon the air. 1t sounded
but short distance off, and seemed to
be coming directly toward the house.
Father rose quickly from his seat,
and waited anxiously for further de-
velopments. That any one had the
audacity to ride straight toward his
farmhouse in pursuit of the game did
not seem possible to him. Yet the bay
ing hound was evidently approaching
the house, and would be in the clearing
in another five minutes.
Suddenly crash of underbrush in
the forest could be heard. and the next
momentseveral deer leaped out into the
clearing, and bounded up the opposite
hill. Like the wind they were out of
sight. Then. all was still for several
minutes.
Once more came the crashing of some
animal through the forest. This time
it was not so loud. intimating that a
smaller animal was seeking safety
from the pursuing hound. Father had
his rifle in his hands, ready to shoot the
hound. if necessary. He valued the
lives of his pet deer higher than that Of
a murderous dog. whose only good in
the world seemed to be to make sport
for its master.
When the pursued creatures finally
reached the clearing, and leaped forth
it was sight such as to make any
heart melt with pity. A handsome doe,
followed by small fawn, whose slight
strength was rapidly giving out, stood
trembling before us. The eyes of the
mother were dilated with fear, more,
thought, for its young one than itself
The little fawn looked up pleadingly
at its mother, as much as to ask if i
could not lie down and rest. Th'
mother, in turn, looked at us for mo
ment, and seemed to plead for safety.
There seemed to be mutual recog
milton between father and the helples
creature. The two had doubtless seer
each other many times before, but neve
at such close range. The doe hesitate'
only for moment. With bound o
two it was close to our side, with tn
little fawn tottering feebly at its side
A few yards from us it stopped again
and father, dropping his rifle, az
preached the two motionless creatures
The mother leaped back step or two
but the fawn quietly rolled in the grass
/ exhausted.
, With gentle stroke Of his han
father smoothed back the soft hair c
the small creature, who did not seer
to object to his attention. There wa
another moment of hesitation on til
part of the mother, as if she were de
| batting within herself the advisability {
> leaving her young in the care of father
, The deep bayings of the hound startle
+ her from her reverie, and she turned he
Y head toward the opposite hills, and CAV
> few leaps forward.
i Her motherly love was strongly maj
e ifest in all her actions; for she stoppe
$ short third time, and turned aroun
to look at us. The fawn was still lyin
8 calmly on the grass, looking wistfull
/ toward its mother, but apparently te
. weak to follow. Father was gent
n stroking its hair. and trying to show tt
], doe in every possible way that he woul
a protect the little creature for it.
: The doe took the hint and seemed sa
n isfied. The next momentit was boun
e ing up the hill with the swiftness OF tt
wind, while the fawn. with pleadir
e look at us, dropped its head on ii
# grass. -
When the pursuing hound burst for
s from the forest, / held the little trem
Y ling creature in my arms. while faith
), took up his rifle again, and prepare
1t himself to defend it. With nose clio
y to the ground the fierce dog rush'
If toward us. until he caught sight
e fathers rifle pointed at its head. ~
e sight of the fawn spurred him on, b
y the fear ol the deadly weapon. which
a had doubtless learned the nature
II, i.